Chit aims to bridge ‘generation gap’

Giving residents the run of the home and the chance to meet more young people are among the priorities for Chit Herman, the new Home Manager at Whitecliffe House in Blandford.

Born in the Philippines, Chit did all her nurse training, degree and Masters in Health Management here in the UK. Her last NHS post was as a Matron in Renal Services at the Royal Free Hospital in Hampstead, London. She has joined us from another private provider, having managed a care home in Uxbridge for three years.

“My approach is that a care home really is the residents’ home and they should have the freedom to enjoy it and do what they want.

“I previously had a resident who was a composer and was selling CDs of his music through Amazon. We were totally comfortable with him effectively having a little business of his own going on from within the home.”

Chit is already working with Marketing and Customer Advisors to foster more community involvement with Whitecliffe.

“We’re building close links with local schools so we can welcome more young people on visits,” she says.

“Sometimes in a care home you need to fill a generation gap. School visitors can remind residents of when their own children and grandchildren were young. It’s also a great experience for pupils to come in and meet elderly people, who typically have fascinating stories to tell and will often have contributed a great deal to the country.”

Another priority is liaison with other community health services in and around Blandford so that there is, in Chit’s words, a ‘seamless service’ involving Whitecliffe and other community provision.

“Whitecliffe is a lovely little home with a boutique feel that stands out from other care settings and deserves to be put on the map,” she says.

Chit lives in Dorchester and enjoys theatre, opera and going to restaurants.

She recently became a grandmother for the first time when her daughter gave birth to a girl, Gracie Rose.